Package-conveying mechanism



Dec. 11 1923. 1,476,737

R. C. STROUT PACKAGE CONVEYING MECHNI SM Fild Feb. 18. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 41 I "gy K lliorlwggl/ Dec. 11,1923. v 1,476,737

4 R. c. s'rRou'r PACKAGE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 18. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [11.11611 Zap Ralph 'l'uu D ec. 11, 1923.

R. C. STROUT PACKAGE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 18, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented D ec.' 1l, 1923.

r IUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH C. STROUT, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION, LIMITED, OF `NORFOLK DOWNS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION oF MASSACHUSETTS.

PACiKAGrE-CONVEYING MECHANISM.

To all "wlwm it may concern? Be it known` that I, RALPH C. STROUT', a

. citizen of the .United States, residing at 'vollaston, county of Norfolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Conveying Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to package conveying mechanism for packaging machinery, and particularly to a safety device for the package conveyor, whereby the excess packages on the conveyor will be removed if for any reason the conveyor becomes overfilled, For the purposes of this application, I shall discuss my invention in the particular adaptation in which it has been found most suitable, namely, to the conveyor which operates between the bottom sealer machine and the weighing machine of a packaging system.v

It will be'understood, of course, that'this treatment is purely for purposes of illustration and in no way limiting.

Such conveyor occasionally becomes overlled with packages, due to variation in the handling speeds of the bottom sealer and weigher, thereby choking the packaging system. Heretofore when such a condition occurs, it has been the usual practice to stop one of the machines, generally the bottom sealer, until the weigher' shall have caught up with the package supply.

To the end'therefore of 'rectifying this condition automatically and substantially at the moment that it occurs, and in an arrangement which will avoid the necessity of stopping either the. bottom sealeror the weighing machine, I have devised my present invention.

According to myinventiom I automati- `cally remove from the belt the excess package or packages, as soon as' the number of packages on the belt exceeds the normal number. The. surplus packages thus removed may afterwards be replaced on the belt and fed' through the system. but at the time of removal, they 'are definitely taken out of the Working range of the system so as to avoidall possibility of interference therewith. The mechanism for Acar-rying out 'the principles of my invention is simple in lwhen there is an excess Application ined February 1s, 1922. serial No. 537,622.

construction, and is characterized by the positive and immediate response of the parts whenever the number of packages on theI tive, but whenever the number of packages on the belt exceeds the normal number, the surplus packages themselves automatically vcause the package remover to come into operation and successively remove packages from the belt until such time as the number of packages on the belt is restored to normal, whereupon the pusher is again thrown out of operation.

The construction and operation of my invention, together with an embodiment thereof which not only well illustrates the principles involved, but is' itself an organized structure which has been found satisfactory in actual use. is described and lshown in the accompanying specification and drawings` and the characteristic features of novelty are particularly pointed out in the appended claims. drawings like reference characters are correspondingly applied, .and in the drawin ig. 1 is a side elevation of a conveyor in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof` with the belt partially broken away, toexpose the underlying mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof, and showing the package p usher in its normal inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan detail show.- ing the package feeler swinging freely across the belt, as happens when the number of packages on the belt is normal.

Fig. 4a is a transverse section corresponding to Fig. 4.

Fig. 4b is a diagrammatic plan view corresponding to Figs. 4 and 4a and showing the normal spacement of the packages A,on thev belt.A

Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. .4b and showing the action of the pusher and feeler number of packages on the belt.

Figs. 5*L and 5b are views similar to Figs,

Throughout the specification and i 4a and illustrating respectively the obstruction of the feeler by a surplus package on the belt, and the operation of the pusher to remove a package from the belt, as indicated in F ig. 5, and Y Fig. 6 is a detail section alongv .the cam shaft of the device.

According to my inventionl pro-vide a package .detector or feeler which, when the number of packages on the bel-t is normali intermittently swings freely between the packages but which, when there is an excess number .of packages on the belt, is obstructed by a package and immediately sets into operation Ia. normally inactive package .pusher =disposed in the rear thereof and effective when actuated to successively remove the packages from the belt until such time as the number of packages on the belt has been restored to normal, whereupon fthe pusher is automatically thrown out of operation, and the feeler resumes its normal action.

l have indicated at 1 the package receiving belt of a conveyor of standard type,at 2 the frame rails thereof, and at 3 the packe age guide' rails which extend longitudinally i 3ro points between whic above the-upper flight of the belt on either side thereof, and are o ned between their ends, as indicated '-at 6, ig. 1, to permit the pusher to swing across the belt vand eject a surplus package therefrom.

The belt 1 may o erate between any two it, is desired to transfer articles, and in the adaptation selected as illustrative ofthe principles of my yinvention, said belt operates between a bottom sealer machine which would be' disposed at the lef-t in Fig. 1 and a package weighing machine which would be disposed at the right 1n Fig.,1, the packages delivering from the bottom sealer onto the belt 1 and being transferred by said in machine.

ovable intermittently across the belt iny properly timed relation to the feed of the packages 1s a Apackage detector or feeler 4 which 'controlstheJ operation of an.

' excess package remover or pu'sherv.` The pusher '5 is normally inactive so long as the number of packages on -the belt is normaland the feeler swings freely across the belt, but is automaticallyI set into operation to swing transversely across the .belt in rear of theffeeler 4 when the motion of the ,feeler is checked by a surplus package on the belt whereby to push the package next following such obstructl ing* package laterally oii' the belt through the gap -6 in the guide rail 3.

The feeler 4 may be given intermittent motion across the belt in a variety of ways and the feeleritself may be constructed in a variety of forms. As here shown, said feeler .1s disposed as a finger adjustably belt to the weightion and swings through thenearer gap o 'accesar mounted at 7 on an arm 8 which is fast to a rock shaft 9 journaled in suitable bearings 11 dependingfrom the frame rails 2, Figs.

1 and 2. 1

'lhe rock shaft 9 is actuated through an arm 10 )thereon which is provided with a roll 12 operating on the face of a ratchetcarrying cam 13 which is fast on a cam shaft 14, journaled in suitable bearings 15 I depending from the frame rails 2.

'The shaft14 is continuously driven in any suitable manner, and in the embodiment selected as illustrative herein, is driven from the sealing machine by a sprocket 16 'on said shaft 14 which is connected by a sprocket chain 17 with a sprocket 18 on a shaft 19 driven' from the sealer.

The cam 13 has apocket 20 into which the roll 12 drops t0 cause the feeler to swing across the bef-lt, Figs. 4a and 4", between-the packages thereon. So long `as said roll is out of said pocket, Fig. 5a, the feeler is retracted clear of the belt to permit a package to feed therepast.

' The operation of the fee/lei`- finger 4 is so timed relative to the delivery of packages to thebelt 1 that when the number of pack- `ages on the belt is normal, the feeler will ass across the belt between the packages, ig. 4", at a time When there is no package in position on the belt to obstruct the movement of saidfinger. So long as this conditi'on continues, the o finger is idle and ine ective upon the package pusher 5, which therefore remains in 'the inoperative position shown in Fi 2 inI which position it is clear of the belt. Vhen, however, there' is an excess number of packages upon Ithe belt, due either lto-an excess delivery of packages or to a'difference in the handling speeds of the bottom sealer andweigher or to any other cause, and the belt fills up with packages, the inward -movement of the feeler linger .4 across the belt will be checked by the Ipresence of a package in the path of said finger, Figs.'

5 and 5,

When this condition occurs, the pusher is promptly and automatically set into mothe registering pair of gaps 6 in lthe guide rails 3 to push a package oft' thc belt through the opposite gap. The pusher continues to nation of the feeler p ics izo

the cam 13 in slots 29 therein by a slight.v blade spring 30, Fig'. 5a, which is anchored at 31 and at its free end bears upon the toe of the pawl. The rise of thel pawl is limited -by a stop 41 on the cam 23. 15

The ratchet teeth extend as a short series -about the peripher of the ratchet 28 and the pawl is normal y held disengaged from said teeth by a pawl stop arm 32'fast on the rock shaft 9 between the cams 13 and 23.

Coiled about the rock shaft 9 between the arm 8 and the adjacent bearing 10 in a torsion spring 33, the normal tendency of which is to throw the pawl stop 32 inwardly towards the pawl, as the shaft 9 is rocked by the cam 13 and arm 11."

At each revolution of the cam shaft 14- therefore, the pawl vstop 32 is rocked down against the heel of the pawl 26 to lift' the toe thereof away from the ratchet 28 so as to prevent the cam 24 from being clutched to the shaft 14 to rotate therewith.

Anchored at 34 to one of the frame rails 2 is a tension spring 35 which is connected at 36 to an extension of\the pusher armv 21 and normally tends to throw the pusher inwardly.

Loose on the rock shaft 9 is an arm 38 whichis provided with a roll'39 adapted to work a ainst the face 40 of the combination doub e cam and pawl carrier 24 when said cam is clutched to the cam 13 to rotate therewith. Anchored to said arm 38 and to one of the frame rails 2 is a tension spring 39', the normal tendency of which is to hold the arm in the position of Fig. 3 wherein it will assist to prevent accidental rotation of the cam 24 and pawl 26 relative to the -cam 13 and ratchet 28.

The rotation of the cam shaft 14 is transmitted to the rock shaft 9 by the rockerarm 11, cam roll 12, and cam 13 fast on the cam shaft whereby to rock said shaft 9 to swing the feeler 4 across the belt between the packages P, P and P2 thereon Figs. 4 and 4b, when the package number is normal,

and to swing the pawl stop 32 down against the heel of the pawl 26 to lift the vpawl away from the ratchet and prevent the cam 24 from being clutched to the cam shaft 14 to rotate therewith. This is the normal operation of the parts so long as the number of packages on the belt is normal, and inasmuch as no 'rotation is imparted -to thecam 24,`the pusher 5 is not actuated and remains in rits ineffective position shown in Figs. 3

the presence of. a

and 4b. When, however, there is an excess number of packages on the belt, the' feelerl 4 is stopped in its motion across the belt by ackage Iv in obstructing position thereon, 4igs. 5", 5a and 5b, and the package pusher 5 thereupon is brought into operation to removethe package P next in the rear of the obstructing package.

This is accomplished as follows;`

,IVhen the movement of the feeler 4 across the belt isl interrupted by an 'obstructing package P thereon, the pawl stop 324 is prevented from engaging and lifting the pawl clear of the vratchet teeth and the cam 24 which carries said pawl is thereby coupled with the cam 13 which carries the ratchet so as to rotate therewith. The rotation of the cam 24 through the cam face 23,1011 22, and

rocker arm 21 swingsthe pusher 5 inwardly across the beltto push therefrom the package P. next in 'the rear of the obstructing package P (Fig.5).l The same rotation of the cam 24 through the cam face 40 thereof,.roll 39, and rocker arm 38 rocks the arm 38 to overcomethe spring 39 and permit the cam '24 and withit the pawl 26 to rotate freelywith the cam 13 and ratchet 28.

The pusher 5 continues to operate until the number of packages on the'belt is again restored to normal, whereupon the feeler 4 will againl swing freely across the belt between the packages and the pawl stop 32 willagain intermittently engage and lift the pawl clear of t-he ratchet so as to prevent rotation of the cam 24 and consequent actuation of the pusher. v n

Various modifications in the form and construction of my invention may obviously be restored to without'departing from the spirit of the invention if within the limits of the appended claims.

What I ytherefore claim and desire to v' 'secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a way along which packages travel, a normally ineffective p-ackage remover for automatically removing surplus packages from said way, and means operated by the presence of a surplus packf plusl packages from` said way, and means'.

disposed adjacent said package remover and operated b y contact 4with a surplus package on said way for automatic-ally setting sa1dpackage remover into operation. v

3. In combination with a way' along which packages travel, a normally ineffective package remover for-automatically removing surplus packages fromsaid way, anda detector disposed adjacent said package remover `for normal intermittent travel between the packages on said way and operated by contact with an obstructing package on said wayfor tween the packages thereon when the packautomatically setting said package remover into operation.

movable intermittently across said way beage ,number is normal, and a normally ineffective package remover controlled by said detector and automatically set into operation by the presence of an excess number of packages on said way.

6. In combination with a way along which packages travel, a package detector normally nvable intermittently across -said way bet een the packages thereon when the packa Ae number is normal and a normally in-I effective package' remover automatically set into opera-tion whenever the 'free movement of said detector across said way is obstructed by thezpresence of al surplus package on said way.

7.l In combination with a way along which l packages travel, a package detector normally movable intermittently across said waybe- `tween the packages thereon when the `package number'i's normal, a normally ineffective package pusher disposed .adjacent said detector and automatically set into operation l whenever the free movement of said detector across said Way is obstructed by the presence of a surplus package on said way, and operative connections between said detector and pusher normally permitting movement of lsaid detector and preventing movement of said pusherand effective upon contact of said detector with an obstructing package on said wal)r to permit movement of said package pusher.

8. In combination with away along which packages travel, spaced package guide rails adjacent said way, said rails having a pair of alined gaps constituting respectively an entrance opening for a package pusher and a discharge opening for a package engaged by said pusher, a package detector normally movable intermittently across said-way between the packages thereon when-the package number is normal, and a normally cineffective 'package pusher automatically movable through said entrance opening of the guide rails whenever thefree movement of said detector across said way is obstructed bythe presence of a surplus package on said way to leject a package from said way through said package discharge opening of theguide rails. Y

' 9.-l ln combination with a way along which packagestravel, a'drive shaft, a rock.

shaft", operated therefrom, a lpackage `.detecifi-regar tor mounted on said rock shaft to normally move intermittently across the package way between the packages thereon, a normallyl ine'ective package pusher, and pusher actuating mechanism automatically connected lto said drive shaft whenever the free move,-

ment of said detector across the package f way is obstructed by the presence of a surv plus package on said way whereby tocause said pusher to travel across the package way and remove a package therefrom.

10. ln combination with aA way along f the packages on said Way, a normally ineffectlve package pusher on Said rock Shaft,- 'I

and means automatically clutched to said cam shaft whenever the free movement of said detector across the package way. is obstructed by the presence of a surplus package on said way whereby to cause said pusher to travel across the package way and remove a package therefrom. 11. lin combination with'a way along which packages travel, a cam shaft, a rock shaft driven therefrom, a package detector fast on said rock shaft to normally move intermittently across the package way between the packages on said way,- a normally in effective package pusher on said rock shaft, and means automatically clutched to said cam shaft, whenever the free movement, of said detector across the package way is obstructed by the presence of a surplus package on said way' whereby to cause said pusher to travel across the package way and remove a package therefrom'.

12. In combination with a way along which ackages travelU a cam shaft, a rock shaft riven therefrom, a package detector fast on said rock shaft to normally move intermittently across the package way bctween the packages on said way, a normally ineffective package pusher on said rock shaft,

a pusher operatln cam loose on sald ,cam

shaft, and means e ective whenever the free movement of said detector across the package way is4 obstructed by the presence of a surplus package' on to said way to clutch said pusher operating cam to the cam shaft whereby to cause said pusher to travel across the package way and remove a package therefrom.

13. ,In combination with a way along whichpackages travel, a cam shaft, a package detector operated therefrom to normally mpve intermittently across the package way between the package thereon, a pusher, a pusher operating cam loose on said cam shaft, a pawl carried by said cam, a ratchet 'fast on said cam shaft, and a pawl trip operated during the movement of the package detector and normally eectve to prevent 330 to said cam shaft whereb; to cause the package pusher to travel across the package Way and remove a package.

14. In combination with a way along which packages travel, a cam shaft, a rock shaft' driven therefrom, a package detector mounted on Said rock shaft to normally move intermittently across the package way between the packages thereon, a pusher, a pusher operating cam loose on said cam shaft, a pawl carried by said cam, a ratchet fast on said cam shaft, and pawl trip mo nted on said rock shaft and normally effecive to prevent engagement of said pawl an ratchet and effective whenever the 'free movement of said detector across said Way is obstructed bythe presence of a surplus i' package on said way to permit said pawl to engage said ratchet 'and couple said pawlcarrying cam to said cam shaft whereby lto cause the package pusher to travel across the package way and remove apackage therefrom. f l

V15. In combination with4 a way along -which packages travel, a cam shaft, a rock shaft; driven therefrom, a package detector mounted on said rock shaft to normally move intermittently across the package Way between the packages thereon, a pusher, a pusher operating cam loose on said cam shaft, arpawl carried'by said cam, a ratchet fast on said cam shaft, a spring normally urging said pawl towards said ratchet, and a lpawl trip mounted 'on' said rock shaft and normally effective to intermittently engage and lift the pawl awayv from the ratchet and effective Whenever the free -movement of said detector across Said way iS obstructed by the presence of a surplus package on said Way to permit .said pawl to engage said ratchet and couple said pawl-carrying cam to said cam shaftv whereby to cause the package pusher to travelacross the package way and remove a package therefrom.

16. In combination with a way along which packages travel, a cam shaft, a cam fast thereon, a rock shaft driven byy said cam, a package detector mounted on said rock shaft to normally move intermittently across the package Way between the packages thereon, a pusher, a pusher operating cam Aloose on said cam shaft,l a pawl carried by said pusher operating cam, a ratchet fastkon said rock shaft operating cam, and

a pawl trip mounted on said rock shaft and normally effective to intermittently engage and lift the pawl .awa from the ratchet and effective whenever t e free movement of said detector across said way, is obstructed by the presence of a surplus package' on said i vway to permit. -said pawl to engage said ratchet and couple Said pawl-carryin cam to sald ratchet-carrying cani where y to cause the Apackage pusher to travel across the package way and remove a package therefrom. l

17. In combinationv with a Way alongA which packages travel, a cam shaft, a cam fast thereon, a rock shaft driven by said cam, a package 'detector mounted on said rock shaft to normally move intermittently across the package Way between the packages thereon, a pusher, a pusher operating cam loose on said cam shaft, a pawl carried by said pusher operating cam, a ratchet fast on said rock shaft operating cam, a pawl trip mounted on said rock shaft and normally effective to intermittently engage land liftthe pawl away from the ratchet and effective whenever the free movement of said detector across said way is obstructed by the presence of a surplus package on said way to permit said pawl to engage said ratchet and couple said pawl-carrying cam to said ratchet carrying cam whereby to cause the package pusher to travel across the package way and remove a ackage therefrom, a spring tensioned detent on said rock shaft having a normal' restraining relation to said pawl carrying cam to prevent rotation thereof with said ca'n shaft, and a roll on said detent engaged by 'said pawl carrying 'cam to remove said'detent when said cam is coupled to said cam, shaft to rotate therewith. l l.

18. In combination With a conveyor along which packages are adapted to travel, a pair of spaced guide rails disposed adjacent the upper flight of the conveyor and interrupted between their ends to provide aligned pusher entrance and package discharge openings, a cam fast on said cam shaft, a

normally movable intermittently across the f conveyor between the packages thereon, a package pusher mounte adjacent said detector and normally disposed in inoperative position, a cam loose on said cam shaft for actuating said packon saidv rock shaft age pusher, a pawl carried by said pusher actuating cam, a ratchet fcarried by said rock shaft actuating cam', apawl stop fast on said rock shaft and normally effective to hold said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet andinefl'ective upon interruption of thefmovement of said detector -by the obstruction of a' surplus ackage on the conveyor to hold said paw and ratchet mechanism disen yaged whereby the pusher actuating cam 1s clutched .to the cam shaft to Jrotate therewith and swing the pusher across the belt through the pusher entrance Opening of the guide rails to eject a package cause the removal of apackage from said" way.

20. 'The combination with a Way along 'which a definite numberl of packages are adapted to travel to a point of delivery', of

a package engaging device effective adJa- Acent to the point of delivery upon the ael cumulation of a predetermined number of packages at the point of delivery to cause removal of any surplus package from said Way. y

21. ln combination with a Way along which a definite number of packagesare armas# dent with vthe normal spaces between the packages, and means controlled by the idetector if its entry be blocked t0 remove any surplus package from said way.'

adapted vto travel in successive spaced relal tion, a package detector having a normal'. timed entry intoY the package path coinci-f 22. In combination wlth a Way along-`l which a denite number of packages are.

adapted to travel to a point ofde'livery, a

'package detector 'adjacent the point of, delivery, and a package arrestor operable by said detector upon the accumulation of a predetermined number of packages at the point of delivery to remove any' surplus package from said Wafy. llln testimony Whereo l affix my signature in' presence of two witnesses.

y RALPH C. s'rnou'r.

Witnesses: l y l CARL il. HARTBOWER,

` f GEORGE A.' RoxNsoN. 

